Factors Influencing Participation of Cocoa Farmers in the Government Spraying Programme in Ghana
Abdallah Abdul-Hanan
Department of Agribusiness Management and Finance, Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Benjamin Tetteh Anang *
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study assessed the factors influencing participation of cocoa farmers in the government spraying programme in Ghana using cross-sectional data obtained by interviewing respondents with the aid of a questionnaire. A probit model was employed to analyse the determinants of farmer participation in the programme. The study revealed that participation in the spraying programme was higher for the following: male farmers, producers with more years of farming experience, farmers with more extension contacts, and respondents with smaller families. Furthermore, the interaction term for gender and farming experience showed that being an experienced male farmer decreased the probability of participation in the programme relative to an experienced female farmer. The study recommends the expansion of the government cocoa spraying programme to cover farmers who were unable to participate. In particular, addressing the factors inhibiting the participation of female farmers as well as improving extension service delivery to producers will enhance the effectiveness of the programme.
Keywords: Cocoa production, probit model, spraying programme, Ghana